-Walter Meeuws’ first match in charge had been a
friendly just weeks prior on August 23rd at Brugge vs. Denmark that Belgium won
(3-0) with goals by Marc De Grijse and a double (inlcuding one penalty) by Jan
Ceulemans.

Ceulemans
broke Paul van Himst’s Belgian record of 81 International matches that day.

-The week prior to the match, Portugal had played a
friendly vs. Romania at Setubal on August 31st that ended in a scoreless tie.

-This match was critical for Belgium as a win
would just about guarantee a place in the following year’s World Cup in Italy.

There were many prominent Belgian politicians in the
stands for the occasion.

-A
rumor thought to be false at the time, was that the Portuguese Manager Juca was
to be replaced in the near future by the Artur Jorge/Toni combination.

This
was denied by the Portugal’s Communications representative.

-For
Belgium, Enzo Scifo was no longer a starter and remained on the bench. He had
joined French club Auxerre that season in a move that would help resurrect his
career, but for the time being he was out of the team.

-For Portugal, this was Xavier’s fourth cap only.
It was remarkable given that he had earned his first cap in 1981 and earned
another in 1982. He had earned his third only the week before on August 31st
friendly vs. Romania.

This was also Paulo Futre’s first match for
Portugal, since the fixture vs. Belgium in February.

-Portugal actually played well and were on par
with Belgium until the first goal with Futre in excellent form.

After the first goal, Belgium took full control of
match.

-In the 35th minute, Venancio tried to pass to
Paneira in midfield, his pass was intercepted by Bruno Versavel who immediately
sent Jan Ceulemans through to score.

-In
the 56th minute, Sobrinho was booked after pulling down Marc Emmers
who seemed to be able to get past him.

-Minutes
later, in the 59th minute, a Belgian corner was headed out by the
Portuguese defense. BrunoVersavel gave the ball to Michel De Wolf who passed it
to the left side to Marc De Grijse who crossed for Marc Van der Linden to head
in the second goal.

The
Portuguese had tried to play the offside trap, but De Grijse had timed his run.

-Immediately
after the second goal, Juca sent on striker Rui Aguas (replacing midfielder
Vitor Paneira).

Replacing
a midfielder with a striker left Portugal vulnerable, but they had no choice
since they needed to get a result.

-In
the 69th minute, Eric Gerets sent a long cross from the defense into
the path of Marc Van der Linden who layed it on the left side for Jan
Ceulemans, who in turn crossed it back into the center for Van der Linden to
tap in into an empty net (after Ceulemans’ cross had pulled Silvino out of
position).

-With
less than a quarter hour remaining, Meeuws sent on Luc Nilis to replace his
fellow Anderlecht teammate and two-goal hero Marc Van Der Linden to close out
the match.

-Afterwards
a disappointed Paulo Futre told Portuguese Magazine ‘A Bola’ that ‘I am ashamed
to return to Madrid and explain to my friends how we lost’.

-Belgium
Manager Walter Meeuws told the press: ‘I counted on this result, we did not
even have to score three goals’.

-Belgium
finished off their qualification matches in the next month by earning ties vs.
Switzerland (at Basel on October 11th, 1989, 2-2 tie) and a
disappointing home tie with Luxembourg (at Heysel, 1-1 tie) on October 25th,
1989.

-Strangely,
five out of Portugal’s eight qualifiers had been scheduled for this Fall of
1989.

Apart
for this match vs. Belgium, the rest of qualifiers were as follows:

September
20, 1989 at Neuchatel, Switzerland 1-Portugal 2.

October
6, 1989 at Prague, Czechoslovakia 2-Portugal 1.

October
11, 1989 at Saarbrücken, Luxembourg 0-Portugal 3.

November
15, 1989 at Lisbon, Portugal 0-Czechoslovakia 0.

-Paulo
Futre would be sent off in the October 6th vs. Czechoslovakia. On
October 10, 1989, FIFA suspended him for two matches.

-Sobrinho
would get two more caps only, the match on October 6th vs.
Czechoslovakia would be his last.

-In
the end, this loss vs. Belgium was too much to overcome and Czechoslovakia won
the second qualifying spot in the Group.

-Despite
initial denials, on January 4th , 1990, Coaches Arthur Jorge of Porto
and Toni, the Assistant Coach of Benfica, were appointed as Portugal’s National
Team Managers.

-Enzo
Scifo would continue to be sidelined by Meeuws. It appeared that he had
jeopardized his National Team future when in January 1990, he left a National
Team camp upon learning that he would not be playing.

Meeuws
handling of the team would be questioned, such as announcing that he had
already had eight out of the eleven starters decided. Many prospective players
with a chance felt disappointed.

The
National team’s displays also deteriorated in the coming months.

The
Federation finally sacked Meeuws on March 1st, 1990.

Guy
Thys would be re-instated and remain in charge until Spring 1991.

Enzo
Scifo would slowly regain his form and become a regular once more by the time
of the World Cup.

-Belgium’s
Marc De Grijse and Marc Van Der Linden had joined Anderlecht that summer as a
part of double signing intent on regaining the League title.